3 killed in attack on West African counterterror force’s HQ

A car packed with explosives detonated at the headquarters of a new, five-nation West African counterterror force in Mali, setting off a gun battle that killed two soldiers, a civilian and two attackers, officials told The Associated Press on Friday.

The attack highlighted the brazenness of the extremist threat in a part of the world that made headlines in October with the killing of four U.S. service members in an ambush in neighboring Niger.

Force commander Gen. Didier Dacko confirmed Friday’s attack by phone from Niger, saying it was “underway as I speak with you.” Residents said the blast shook the community of Sevare, near the central city of Mopti.

In addition to the deaths two other attackers were captured, G5 Sahel spokesman Abdoul Salam Diagana told the AP. Four soldiers, three…